Rock Chick 03 Redemption (34 page)

“What’d I tel you about this place?” one customer had turned to the other, they were obviously friends. They were both looking at Annette, Daisy, Jet and me sitting on the couches.

“I don’t even like coffee and I’ve decided I’m a regular,” the other one said.

“I don’t make tea!” Tex boomed threateningly at him and he jumped.

I closed my eyes trying to think positively. At least Monty’s day wasn’t going to be boring. Instead of being mortified, I thought of it as my way of paying back Lee’s boys for al the headaches I’d given them.

“I hope you’re having fun!” I shouted to the room.

In my head, I heard them laughing.

What I didn’t know, in a suite of offices in Lower Downtown Denver, they
were
laughing.

* * * * *

We spent the early afternoon helping Jane go through boxes and boxes of books. We spent the late afternoon behind the espresso counter while Uncle Tex taught us how to make coffee drinks. It wasn’t rocket science but Uncle Tex was a dril sergeant and Daisy kept gabbing about everything under the sun and over-frothing the milk.

After we learned how to make coffees, Lee and Indy walked in.

Indy smiled at me but I could tel something was wrong.

My first thought was Hank.

My heart clutched and my eyes flew to Lee. Hank was his brother and they were close. If something had happened to Hank, in the line of duty or because of me, I should be able to tel with one look at Lee.

At least I thought so, but Lee’s face was closed tight.

I felt like someone put their hand to my throat and squeezed.

They arrived at the espresso counter and Lee looked at me. “Can I talk to you, please?” he asked.

I swal owed, nodded and walked from behind the espresso counter. He sat on a couch with me and put the sole of his boot up on to the edge of the table. I sat with my legs crossed under me, sideways on the couch, facing him.

I looked at his posture. He was sitting exactly the way Hank was when I first laid eyes on him.

Before I could stop myself, I said, “You’re just like your brother.”

“Sorry?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

Lee watched me closely and I could swear he was reading my mind. Final y, he muttered, “Fucking hel .” His gaze was stil on me.

“What?” I asked.

His eyes crinkled. “I like this,” Lee said, as if to himself, obviously pleased about something, pleased and amused.

“Is Hank okay?” I ignored what he said and got to what I considered was the matter at hand.

Lee’s eyes focused on me again. “Yeah. Why?”

“You looked serious when you walked in. I was, um, worried.”

The corners of Lee’s lips curled up slightly. “He’s fine, busy. He wanted me to come talk to you.”

I nodded. “What do you like?” I asked, going back to what he said earlier.

“Sorry?” he repeated.

“You said, ‘I like this’. What do you like?” He didn’t hesitate but said, straight out, “You’re in love with Hank.”

My eyes bugged out of my head. “What?” my voice was high and didn’t sound like my own.

He leaned into me. “It’s good Roxie.”

I wasn’t sure but I thought I’d started panting.

Lee went on. “Hank dated a girl, in high school, she was sweet but boring as hel . Hank’s women have al been boring. You…” he paused, “aren’t boring.”

Good God.

First, I wasn’t sure I wanted to think about Hank’s women. Second, wel , second was obvious.

“Please, let’s not talk about this,” I begged.

Lee watched me some more and gave in, but he did it with another eye crinkle.

Then his face got serious. “We’ve got information.” Shit.

Maybe I wanted to talk some more about me being in love with Hank and not being boring, whatever the hel that meant.

“What?” I asked in spite of myself.

“You know a man named Desmond Harper?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Big player in Chicago. Mostly drugs. Flynn was a cog in his very large wheel. Flynn stole from him, big take. Harper is not happy.”

“Shit,” I whispered.

“He wants his money back.”

“How much?”

“Half a mil ion.”

“
Fuck!
” I shouted and everyone at the espresso counter looked over at us. “Half a mil ion dol ars?” Lee dropped his foot and turned to me. “Roxie, calm down.”

“Half a mil ion dol ars and he bought me cheese puffs and took me to that sleaze bag motel? I’m gonna fucking
kill
that motherfucker!” I yel ed.

“Roxie –”

I slammed my fists on my knees. “The least he could have done was bind my wrists with velvet rope. He sure could have afforded it. Stupid jerk.”

“Roxie.”

“Do you know…?” I interrupted conversational y, wel , more like loony-tunes conversational y, but stil . “He never paid any rent. Never bought groceries. What a
dick!”

“Roxie.”

“What? Was he sel ing drugs?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Lee answered. “Listen to me, Roxie –” I rambled on. “Probably. Probably to little kids. How could I have been so fucking
blind?
”

“Please listen to me.”

“I’m an idiot. I’m ten times an idiot. God, I could just
die
.” Then I forged ahead because the last comment was too close for comfort these days. “Not die die, as in not-breathing die, but die figuratively, if you know what I mean.” Lee was grinning.

“What?” I asked as if I hadn’t just been on a long-winded rant.

“Definitely not boring.”

I made a noise that sounded like “harrumph”.

Lee took his opportunity.

“I have good news.”

I nodded. I very much wanted to hear good news.

“Marcus set a meeting with Harper. He flew out to Chicago last night and spoke with him this morning. Harper now knows you aren’t involved. Not only that, Marcus has warned him off. He’s given you his protection and whether you, or Hank, want it, it’s now there.”

I took in a deep breath and let it free.

Maybe Marcus was gray too.

“Now I have some bad news,” Lee said.

I tensed. I very much did
not
want to hear bad news.

“Vance and Mace have been in the wind.”

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“After the car chase, Vance came to me to tel me he was going to ground hoping to find out what the fuck was going on with you. I assigned Mace to move with him.

They’ve been tracking and listening. Preliminarily, their assignment was to find out as much as they could, and ferret out Flynn or anyone else who came to town lookin’ for you. They got tuned into Desmond Harper at about the same time the police did.”

I nodded.

“Flynn’s been making Harper unhappy for awhile. Now, Harper’s not unhappy, he’s angry. When his boys got nabbed, something else he’s not pleased about, he assigned two more to come after Flynn.”

I nodded again.

“And Flynn is after you.”

I blinked then asked. “And?”

“They figure they’l get Flynn when he comes after you again. No matter Marcus’s warning, Harper isn’t cal in’

them off. You could get caught in the crossfire.”

“No,” I breathed.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re protected. Luke’s assigned to you. Vance is stil out there, trying to find Flynn. He’s good, Roxie, very good. Because of that, I’ve pul ed Mace.” I started to panic. “Lee, I need to go. I need to get out of here, I can’t ask you to –”

“You go I’l come after you personal y.”

My breath caught at his tone. There was no doubting he meant it

“But, this is a lot, you’re doing too much,” I argued.

“It’s a family thing.”

I stared at him. “I’m not family.”

He gave me a look.

Then his eyes, dark brown, warmed into melted chocolate. I watched him, mesmerized and he reached out and playful y tugged a lock of my hair. He got up, walked to Indy, wrapped an arm around her and kissed her upturned lips. He spoke softly to her for a second and then he was gone.

“Guess we’re done talking,” I said to Indy as she sat beside me.

She put her hand on my leg. “Welcome to the family,” she said in a teasing voice.

Jeez.

There was no shaking these guys, any of them.

“You okay after last night?” I asked.

“Yeah. You?”

“Yeah. I guess Lee isn’t mad at me for putting you in danger,” I said.

“You didn’t put me in danger and anyway, Lee likes you.

He told me that Vance told him you were a rock after he found you. Other women, they’ve had other…” she stopped.

“Let’s just say, you impressed them.”

I stared at her, floored.

“Want a coffee?” she asked.

“I want a drink,” I answered.

“Whisky?” she teased.

I hit her in the arm jokingly. She got up to get a coffee and I sat watching her go, not quite able to shove down the warm feeling stealing over me.

* * * * *

I was sitting behind the book counter with Duke.

I grabbed my phone, flipped it open and put it to my ear.

“Hel o?”

“Hey Sunshine.”

My heart fluttered.

“Hey Whisky,” I said softly.

“How’s your day?” he asked.

“Pure and complete lunacy. But I now know how to make espresso drinks. Yours?”

“We’re close to something. I’ve spent the day putting an operation together, we’re goin’ in tonight. It’d be good if you didn’t get shot at or attacked in the middle of it.” I smiled at the phone. “I’l do my best.”

“Good. Lee and Indy have got a key to my place. Ask her to give it to you. There isn’t much food in the house, there are delivery menus in one of the kitchen drawers.”

“Thanks, but Luke and I are going to Smithie’s tonight.

Jet’s sister’s debut. Maybe the gang wil go out to dinner before.”

Silence.

Then, “Sorry, I thought I heard you say you were going to Smithie’s tonight.”

“You did.”

“Roxanne,” his voice was low and discouraging.

“Hank,” I tried to mimic his tone and failed.

More silence while I suspected Hank fought for control.

“Did anything Tex said to you this morning penetrate that stubborn fuckin’ brain of yours?”

Hank obviously lost the fight for control.

“I promised Jet I was going.”

“I’m sure she’l understand.”

“Hank.”

“You aren’t goin’.”

I ground my teeth.

Then I said, “I’m going, Hank. Bil y Flynn is
not
control ing another fucking
second
of my life.” Another beat of silence then, “Shit, you’re stubborn.” I think I got to him.

“Damn straight,” I replied.

Then he said, “I spent al day tryin’ to concentrate on work, and when I wasn’t concentratin’ on work, I was tryin’ to concentrate on handlin’ your shit. Instead, I found I spent most of the day concentratin’ on al the ways I want to fuck you breathless.”

I went breathless at his words and nearly dropped the phone.

“You’re damn lucky you make me hard just rememberin’

the taste of you or I’d think you were a major pain in the ass.”

Holy cow.

“Whisky.”

He talked over me as he gave in. “Try not to burn down Smithie’s. Smithie is a good guy, he doesn’t deserve whatever mayhem he’s got in store tonight.” I couldn’t help myself, I smiled at the phone. “I promised Luke I’d be good.”

“You’re good al right.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that but I found it made me both annoyed and my nipples went hard.

Then he carried on. “You get home before I do, don’t wear anything to bed. I won’t be in the mood for obstacles.” I was sure what he meant by that and I felt a spasm between my legs.

Final y he said, “Stay safe.”

“You too,” I said back, my voice soft even though we’d had an argument. I didn’t know what his “operation” was about but I didn’t want to hang up the phone with him on angry words.

More silence. So much that I got confused.

“Hank?” I cal ed, wondering if he was gone and didn’t disconnect or something was wrong with my phone.

“I’m here,” he said, his voice had changed, gone husky.

“Hank,” I said again and even though I didn’t mean to let it show, a lot could be heard through my saying his name.

“See you later, Sweetheart.”

Then he disconnected.

I flipped the phone shut and noticed Duke looking at me.

“You’re al right,” Duke told me on an approving nod.

“I am?” I asked.

He turned to me, leaned a hip on the counter and crossed his arms over his black, leather vest.

“You are. These boys need women who can take the heat without meltin’ like butter, and sometimes that heat is fiery. They need women who can give back their shit so they don’t walk al over ‘em and get bored out of their fucking skul s. And they need women who can go soft when the situation demands because they get hard knocks on a regular basis, sometimes literal y, and comin’ home to somethin’ soft is the only way to cope.”

Holy fucking cow.

“You think I’m a woman like that?” I asked him.

“I think there are a fair few women like that in the whole fuckin’ world. And yeah, you’re one of them.” Um… wow.

“I’m not, you know,” I whispered.

He glared at me. “You made a mistake with your old boyfriend. Don’t make another one.”

“Duke –”

“You told Hank that Flynn wasn’t gonna control your life and stil , you’re lettin’ him.”